Collapsible self-returning handle with hideaway linkage



Jan. l0, 1967 G. w. ausl-l 3,297,120

COLLAPSIBLE SELF-RETUHNING HANDLE WITH HIDEM'IAY LINKAGE Filed June 28. 1965 vl/wrap GEORGE w. BUSH Br www.

United States Patent Office 3,297,120 Patented Jon. l0, 1967 COLLAISIBLE SELF-RETURNING HANDLE WITH HIDEAWAY LNKAGE George W. Bush, Haddontleld, NJ., :signor to Philatlel ida Company, luc., Camden, NJ., a corpora no ew Filed June 28, i965 Ser. No. 461,566

1 claims. (di. 19o-ssi This invention relates to a collapsible self-returning handle for use in transporting various carrying cases and particularly portable radios, television sets, electronic test equipment and the like.

A collapsible self-retumiug handle in widespread use at present in association with electronic equipment comprises a handgrip equipped with studs that pass slidably through holes in the top wall of the case, there being nuts at the ends of the studs and coil springs around the studs between the nuts and the inner surface of Ythe top wall. The handle is raised to the canying position by inserting the lingers between the handgrip and the top wall and pulling up against action of the springs. When released, the springs return the handgrip to its collapsed position against the wall. This construction has two drawbacks. One is that the studs extend fairly deep into the equipment thus taking up too much room and at times presenting functional interference with the various parts in the case, especially if the equipment is electronic. The other is that springs lose their resiliency and even break on continued use.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible self-retuming handle which overcomes these drawbacks by eliminating the need for springs and for studs to extend appreciably beyond the wall to which the handle is attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible self-returning handle employing pivoted links and recesses to receive and completely conceal the links when the handle is returned to its collapsed position with its lower surface against the attaching wall, thus improving its appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible self-returning handle which has superior load support properties, is easy to grasp and raise to the carrying position and which returns to its collapsed noncarrying position smoothly and elliciently.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the handle illustrating its raised or carrying position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. l illustrating the collapsed or non-carrying position of the handle;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken ou the line 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view, section. illustrating the handle is raised;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view FIG. 2:

PIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FlG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

Specific reference is now made lo the drawings wherein similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

the line 4-4 of the line 5 5 of some parts in vertical position of the links when the taken on the line 7-7 of The instant handle is generally indicated at l0 and is shown attached to the upper wall 12 of a television set 14, it Ibeing understood that this is merely illustrative of other electronic devices, radios, test equipment and the like` Moreover, while the principles of the invention are particularly applicable to such equipment, they are also applicable to other carrying eases and luggage as well.

111e handle includes an elongated rigid haudgrip portion I6 which may be of any desired contour and may be made of plastic, wood, leather or the like materials, but is preferably molded as a one piece plastic member. The haudgrip is made of a thickness which is comfortable to grip and includes an nndersurface 18 which is adapted to lie ilush against the upper surface of the attaching wall I2. The undersurfaee is of stepped recess construction 20 at the tapered ends of the handgn'p.

A pair of elongated recesses or cavities 22 are provided in the handgn'p which open through the undersuxface 18. the recess being generally rectangular in horizontal crosssectiou and having a central portion 24 which is somewhat wider than end portions 26 and 28, the former being closer to the center of the grip and the latter to the end thereof. Mounted in suitable bores in the grip and extending transversely through each end portion 26 of the recess is a .pivot pin 30.

A link 32 is provided which consists of a llat bar 34 with a pair of spaced depending apertured arcuate ears 36 and 38 at its ends which are inwardly displaced from the side edges of the bar. The pivot pin 30 extends through aligned apertures iu the ears 36 so that the link 32 is pivoted around the pin 30, i.e. around a horizontal axis transverse the handgrip, the ears 36 being disposed in the recess portion 26 and spaced inwardly from the opposite side walls 40 of the recess, see FIGS. 4 and 8.

At predetermined locations the wall 12 is provided with holes through each of which extends the shank of a threaded member 42 which receives a closure nut 44 and a washer 46. It will be noted that the threaded member extends into the case beyond the wall l2 only for a distance suiicient to receive the closure nut. Die shank is carried 'by a member 48 which bears on the wall 12 and includes a pair of spaced upstanding ears 50. The horizoutal cross-sectional contour of the bottom of the bearing member 48 is prefaably rectangular, see FIG. 9, so that both bearing members can be properly aligned relative to each other and to the recesses in the handgrip.

A second link S2 in the form of a narrow bar is provided, one end of which extends between the ears 50 and has an aperture 54 which receives a horizontal pivot pin 56 that is carried by the ears 50. The other end of the link 52 extends between the ears 38 of the irsl link 32, which ears carry a horizontal pivot pin 58 that extends through an aperture 59 in said other end of the link S2. lt should be noted that the overall length of the lirst link 32 is less than that of the recess 22 but greater than that of the second link 52. that the distance between each pair of the ears 36 and 38 is less than the width of the end recess portion 26 and 28, that the pin 56 is also shorter than the width of the recess portion 28, and that the maximum width of the bearing member 48 approximates but is less than that of central portion 24.

In use. the handgrip 16 can be tilted by extending the lingers of one hand beneath the recesses 20 at one end of the grip and the fingers of the other hand are then extended beneath the grip as shown in FIG. l to raise the latter to the support position wherein the links 32 and 52 are extended to generally vertical positions. In this posillon the hand has enough clearance between the grip and the wall 12 and the grip is held in a position generally parallel to the wall when the ease is carried. As seen in FIG. 6, ln the fully raised position the axes of the horizontal pivot pins 30 and 58 are not on a true vertical line but rather the axis ol pin B is displaced about 12'22' from the line in the direction of the end of the handgrip` To collapse the handle, it is simply released. lts weight causes it to drop at which time the links fold into and are completely encompassed by the recesses 22 when the lower surface 18 thereof is llush against the outer surface oi the wall 12. ln the action, the first link 32 pivots around pin 30 until its plate 34 abuts oris adjacent the inner horizontal wall 60 of the recess, as seen in FIG. 7. In so doing. the second link 52 pivots around pins 58 and 56 inwardly toward the undersurface of the bar 34 of the lirst link. The bearing members 48 and their ears 50 move in a generally vertical plane until the upper round edges of the ears abut or are closely adjacent the undcrsurface of the bar 34 of the lirst link 31. The overall height of the ears 36 and 33 und member 48 and the combined thickness of the bar 34 and height of the ears 50 are less than the 'depth of the recesses so that in the liual collapsed form the recesses completely encompass the links 32 and 52, the pins 30. 56 and 58, the ears 36, 38 and 50 and bearing member 48.

While n preferred embodiment of the invention has here been shown and described, a skilled artisan may make minor variation without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination with a carrying case having a wall, a collapsible self-returning handle comprising an clongated hand-grip having a lower surface including a llat portion, at least one recess in said grip opening through said dat portion, a pair of pivotally interconnected linka, means pivotally securing one of said links to said grip in said recess, and means pivotally securing the other of said links to said wall, said recess being dirnensioned to encompass said links and said means when said grip is in its non-carrying position with its llat portion flush against said wall and said links are in generally horizontal positions, said grip adapted to be raised so that said links extend in a generally vertical position and said grip is spaced above said wall in its carrying position.

2. In combination with a carrying ease having a wall, a collapsible self-returning handle comprising an elongated hand-grip having a lower surface including a dat portion, a pair of spaced recesses in said grip opening through said dat portion, a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower links for each recess, a first means pivotally securing the upper link to said grip in said recess about a horizontal axis, a second means pivotally interconnecting said links about a horizontal axis and a third means pivotally securing the lower link to said wall about a horizontal axis, each recess being dimensioned to encompass said links and said means when said grip is in its noncarrying position with its Hat portion flush against said wall and said links are in generally horizontal positions, said grip adapted to be raised so that said links extend in a generally vertical position and said grip is spaced above said wall in its carrying position.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said upper link and lower links are bars, the lower bar being narrower than said upper link bar, and said second plvor means includes a pair of spaced apertured ears depend` ing from said upper link bar receiving one end oi said lower link bar and n pln extending through said lower link bar and said ears.

4. The combination ol claim Z wherein said third pivot means includes n member secured to laid carrying case wall and including a pair o! spaced upetanding apertured ears, one end of said lower link extending between said cara, and n pin extending through said ears and said lower link.

5. The combination ol claim 2 wherein said upper link and lower links are bars, the lower link bar being narrower than said upper link bar, and said second pivot means inetudes a pair of spaced apertured ears depending from said upper link bar receiving one end of said lower link bar and a pin extending through said lower link bar and said ears, said third pivot means including a member secured to said carrying case wall and including a second pair of spaced upstanding apertured ears, the other end of said lower link bar extending between said second pair of ears, and a pin extending through said second pair of ears and said lower link bar.

6. In combination with a carrying case having a wall, a collapsible self-returning handle comprising an elongated hand-grip having n lower surface including n llat portion, a pair of spaced recesses in said grip opening through said llat portion, a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower links for each recess, a tirst horizontal pin pivotally securing one end of said upper link in said recess, a second horizontal pin pivotally securing the other end of said upper link to one end of said lower link, a member secured onto said wall, and a third horizontal pin pivotally securing the other end of said lower link to said member, each recess being dimensioned to encompass said links, pins and portion of said member above said wall when said grip is in its noncarrying position with its ilat portion flush against said wall and said links are generally horizontal.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said recess includes a horizontal wall spaced above its open end and vertical end walls, said first pivot pin being disposed adjacent one of said end walls, said links extending generally vertically when said grip is raised to its carrying position spaced above said ease wall, the axes of said first, second and third pivot pins being vertically disaligned when said grip is fully raised to its carrying position so that when said grip is dropped to its noncarrying position, said other end of said upper link will move upwardly into said recess toward its horizontal wall and its other end wall and said lower link will fold under said upper link with said third pivot pin assuming an ultimate position in said recess between said rst and second pivot pins.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 338,631 9/1919 Germany. 317,775 8/1929 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRE'IT. Primary Examiner, 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CARRYING CASE HAVING A WALL, A COLLAPSIBLE SELF-RETURNING HANDLE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HAND-GRIP HAVING A LOWER SURFACE INCLUDING A FLAT PORTION, AT LEAST ONE RECESS IN SAID GRIP OPENING THROUGH SAID FLAT PORTION, A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED LINKS, MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING ONE OF SAID LINKS TO SAID GRIP IN SAID RECESS, AND MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING THE OTHER OF SAID LINKS TO SAID WALL, SAID RECESS BEING DIMENSIONED TO ENCOMPASS SAID LINKS AND SAID MEANS WHEN SAID GRIP IS IN ITS NON-CARRYING POSITION WITH ITS FLAT PORTION FLUSH AGAINST SAID WALL AND SAID LINKS ARE IN GENERALLY HORIZONTAL POSITIONS, SAID GRIP ADAPTED TO BE RAISED SO THAT SAID LINKS EXTEND IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION AND SAID GRIP IS SPACED ABOVE SAID WALL IN ITS CARRYING POSITION. 